​For a lot of people, buying a used automobile can be a scary and nerve wracking experience, but it doesn't have to be. Equip yourself with a little bit of knowledge and preparation and you can be a smart car buyer, save money buying a good used car, and save yourself grief by passing up on a bad deal. Every week I get several people coming through the gates of our dealership to look at our vehicles. Some simply look at the prices and leave, others will walk around the vehicles, then some others will want the keys to look inside or start them up and others (mostly the ones that buy a car) want to take the vehicle on a test drive. One thing I've learned is that most people are not very well educated on what they need to do in order to inspect a vehicle before purchasing, I've literally had people ask me to pop the hood so they can take a look and then say to me while looking under the hood, "I don't have a clue what I'm looking for, but figured this is what you're supposed to do when you buy a car..." When this happens (more frequently than you think) I do a basic run down with them of all the easy and smart things they need to do to look the car over, so I'm going to share a few of those with you now.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Ask the Seller if There are Any Problems - A quick an easy way to find out if there are any problems with the automobile is to ask the (hopefully honest) seller if they know of any problems with the car and also ask if they've made any repairs. This is a good thing to ask before you even go look at a car, but if you forgot, ask when in person.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Look the Vehicle Over Well - I've been doing this for a while and still miss things when I buy vehicles. When you arrive to look at the car, don't get distracted when you are looking it over. Walk around it 3-4 times, check out the body and the paint, are the tires good, is the interior clean, does the trunk open, is there a spare tire, look for any rust, is there anything that looks off? Take a good look at the outside of the car before you start checking it out mechanically.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Oil - This is a very simple, smart, and very important thing to do when you are looking at a car. First thing you do is obviously pop the hood, then look for the dipstick, usually located on the left side or right side of the motor on a 6 cylinder or 8 cylinder and more commonly in the front on a 4 cylinder vehicle. Take a rag or a few paper towels with you when you go to look at a car, good to help keep your hands clean and to help check fluids, when you pull the dip stick out it will have oil on it, you want to wipe it clean with your rag, re-insert it into the tube you pulled it out of, put it all the way back in, then pull the stick out again and you are going to check a few things. The first is you want to see where the oil level is at; is it full, is it low, is it way low, is it half full? If it is anything but full, oil has gone somewhere; leaked out, burned up or something. Ask if they know why the oil is low, when they last had the oil changed, or if they are having to add oil in between changes. The next thing you want to do is look at the color of the oil, you do not want it to be black and you do not want it to be white/yellowish. You want a clear/tan to a light brown color. If you see white/yellow sludge like/ mayonnaise/peanutbutterish stuff on the dip stick or under the engine cap/Oil cap, you will want to stay away, the vehicle has a blown head-gasket. The third thing I usually do is sniff the dip stick, if it smells burned, that means the vehicle is burning oil. It's not rocket science, this is all easy stuff, and it also lets the seller know that you mean business and that you know what you are doing.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Coolant -Always Always Always make sure that a vehicle is cool before attempting to remove the radiator cap. I like to be able to look at a vehicle when it is cold, in a "first start up of the day" environment if possible. But once you know the vehicle is cool, you'll want to remove the radiator cap and look in the top and see if the coolant is full and if it is coolant or water. Coolant should either be bright green or bright orange for the most part. There should not be silvery particles floating around or any kind of gunk. The top of the reservoir should be clear of any kind of build up and so should the underside of the cap. This is the same process now as with the oil, if the coolant is low, why? Have you had it flushed? Why is it filled with water instead of coolant, etc. If there is a bunch of gunk in the radiator or if you can tell it is significantly low, it's a good indicator there is some kind of an issue, leaking hose, cracked radiator, bad water pump, bad thermostat or more. If there are issues with the coolant, its levels, etc you should probably steer clear unless you are prepared to invest a little money in repairs.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check Under the Vehicle-I know it is dirty work, but if it was easy everyone would be doing it, and not every makes wise decisions when buying a used car. Make sure the vehicle is in park and shut off, be extra safe and apply the emergency break. Lay down on your belly and use a flashlight if you have one handy and look underneath the vehicle. It is common to see some condensation dripping down if the vehicle's A/C is running, but that should be about it. If you find anything greasy, oily, or any other substance that is accumulating on the underside of the vehicle, something is leaking. Good idea to look back up top side and see if you can find the source. Ask if they know what it is, why is it leaking, have they had it looked at. It's now up to you to determine whether it is a minor thing that you are ok with if you buy it or if it is a deal breaker.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Take It On a Test Drive - For some of you, this may sound silly, but I've had, on more than one occasion, people wanting to buy a car on the spot. No looking under the hood. No test driving it or anything. This is a BAD idea. Start the car up, take it on at least a 15 minute test drive, if you can get it up to 70 MPH on the interstate or highway, see how it drives. Make sure it doesn't overheat, make sure the transmission shifts smooth. Make sure the car isn't badly shaking, vibrating, or something else irregular. Check to make sure both the A/C and Heat are working. Also check to see if the power options work, power windows, locks, seats, cruise control, sunroof, radio, cd player, windshield wipers, blinkers, headlights, etc. Some of these things might not be deal breakers for you, but they might be price negotiation points.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Transmission Fluid -Commonly the transmission fluid dip stick is on the opposite side of the engine as the oil dip stick, but not always. It looks similar to the oil dip stick, some vehicles the top of it is yellow like the oil dip stick or red, occasionally it could be orange or black, but most times it's going to be yellow or red with the "trans" notation on it somewhere. You want to check the transmission fluid after you've taken the vehicle on a test drive, you also want the vehicle to be running when you test it in most cases, you want to see the level at operational temperature. So, same process as the oil check, pull the stick, wipe it, replace it, check the level, if it is low, why? etc. This is important to check the scent on as well, if it has a distinct burnt smell that's a bad sign that the transmission is burning fluid and you should stay away. Like engine oil, transmission fluid has a color it should be, most commonly a light to vibrant red color, if it is dark brown or black there is a problem and you should stay away.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Attempt to Negotiate the Price DOWN - I am a firm believer that just about anything can be purchased for less than advertised and this is especially true when dealing with used automobiles, even if you can't get the seller down on their price, perhaps you can get them to throw something in with the deal. Get them to have it serviced and get a free oil change, get a new tire put on, have them get it detailed, or have them fix something minor. I've had people include TVs, BluRay players, all kinds of things to make a deal work. You never know unless you ask. I always price evaluate vehicles I'm looking to buy on Kelley Blue Book. I use the Private Party & Fair Market Price evaluations, and usually I select "good" for the condition. This is a good starting point for knowing what the vehicle is worth. If you are buying from a dealership, you should ask if they have a warranty program, if so, find out more! You have the power to negotiate while the money is in your hands, once you buy the car, the negotiation is over, get the most bang for your buck that you can!

Closing Thoughts...

Things to Bring With You - A Bright Flash LightA Rag or Few Paper TowelsA Printed Out KBB Price Report (For Negotiation)Your Wits

Never Buy From Someone if You Discover They are Lying to You - If you discover in some form or fashion that the person you are considering purchasing the car from is lying to you, walk away. I don't care how small or big the lie is, steer clear. If they are lying to you about one thing, the odds are, they are lying about others as well. Liars aren't playing fair, and if you want a good car deal, work with someone who is honest.

Make Sure the Vehicle is in Their Name on the Title - I make a point of checking the Driver's License of the person I'm buying from and making sure it matches up with the information on the title. If the title isn't in their name, they can't sell the car unless they have a matching Power of Attorney form. If it's not in their name, don't buy it, unless you are certain they are selling for a relative and you've spoken with the actual owner of the car. The last thing you want to do is buy a stolen car, then later have the car taken away by the police, and never see your money again. You also want to make sure that the VIN # on the title matches up with the car you are looking at. Easy way to do this is to look on the edge of the driver side door or door panel, or in the bottom corner of the driver side of the windshield, the VIN # is always located in those places. You also want to make sure you have a clear understanding of the classification of the vehicle title; is it clean, rebuilt or salvage. If you need more information on this, just google it and you'll be up to speed.

Trust Your Gut- The most valuable tool you have when evaluating an automobile and the seller is your instincts (or as I like to say, "your gut.") If you feel like something is off, walk away. You can always sleep on it and call back tomorrow, if the vehicle is gone, then it wasn't meant to be. You know that you can trust yourself, and if you are getting a weird vibe or are uncomfortable with the seller or are second guessing something about the car, its best to steer clear and not make an expensive mistake.

Although it is not an exhaustive list of what you can do to best evaluate a used automobile before purchasing it, it is a pretty good one. If you do all of what I mentioned above, you should come away with a good dependable vehicle at a good price. Nothing I mentioned above is too difficult, you don't have to be a mechanic, you don't have to have working knowledge of automobiles. You just need to be thorough, pay close attention, and be smart! Best of luck and happy hunting in the fun and exciting world of used automobiles!

Below is the listing and at the bottom of the post is a video tour of the truck, this is one of, if not the nicest vehicle we've had at Rose Auto!
​​

SUPER LOW MILES CREW SILVERADO#RoseAutoSales#PreOwnedSilverados2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
CREWCAB LS - $18,500You are looking at a solid 2011 Silverado LS V8 it is the CrewCab with 4 full doors and a short bed that has been rhinolined. It has the 4.8 L Flex Fuel V8 with an automatic transmission all with ONLY 76k miles. It has been maintained and maintenanced very meticulously. The motor runs smooth, sounds quiet, shifts good, runs good, lots of power, no issues. As you can see the paint and body are straight, I just had it professionally detailed and it is super clean in and out. The Chevy alloy wheels are sitting on excellent tires with plenty of life left. This truck has the LS package so that means power everything, windows, locks, remote entry, heads up display, trip computer, steering wheel audio controls, cruise control, CD/MP3/Aux/XM/Am/FM stereo. Also included with this truck is the Towing package, privacy glass, and rubber mats. It has ice cold AC and great Heat, everything works as is should with single zone climate control. Seats up to 6 comfortably with plenty of storage space, you are going to want to come and see this truck, at this price it won't last long. These Chevys are built to last and this Silverado has all you need to haul, pull, off road, travel etc. This Silverado comes with a good clean CarFax report, clean title and is ready to go for a new owner. You can see from the images from the pricing guides, that I have this truck priced well already. For more information or to see in person just call or text 479-285-6383 or Call 479-597-8408
​You can view our full listing on our business Facebook Page HERE

We wanted to take a minute to say an extra special THANKS to all of our family, friends and customers, many of you fit into all 3 of these categories. Since opening in December of 2014, we have reached more than 1,000 likes & followers, we've sold over 500 vehicles and have received in excess of 50 5-Star Ratings/Reviews.

Its been an honor and a privilege to have each of you as a part of the history of Rose Auto Sales and we look forward to working with you again as well as many new faces moving into the future. Thanks again and God Bless from all of us here at the Rose Auto Sales Family!

We hope that you are having a great week and if you are in the market for a quality pre-owned automobile, let us help you through the process.

Rose Auto Sales is a CarFax Advantage Dealer partnered with ASC Warranty company (learn more by clicking HERE). A CarFax Report is available for any vehicle for sale at our dealership and if you buy from Rose Auto Sales, you receive a "CarFax BuyBack Guarantee!"

We buy, sell and trade locally owned cars, trucks and SUVs. The bulk of our inventory are local Arkansas River Valley trade-in vehicles. We do not buy from auto auctions, and we run a history report on every vehicle before we purchase it. Even if we don't have what you're looking for, we will do our best to connect you with other honest and affordable local car dealerships.​To learn more about us, visit us online at www.RoseAutoSalesFS.com

Follow along below for a detailed car buying walkthrough -

For a lot of people, buying a used automobile can be a scary and nerve wracking experience, but it doesn't have to be. Equip yourself with a little bit of knowledge and preparation and you can be a smart car buyer, save money buying a good used car, and save yourself grief by passing up on a bad deal. Every week I get several people coming through the gates of our dealership to look at our vehicles. Some simply look at the prices and leave, others will walk around the vehicles, then some others will want the keys to look inside or start them up and others (mostly the ones that buy a car) want to take the vehicle on a test drive. One thing I've learned is that most people are not very well educated on what they need to do in order to inspect a vehicle before purchasing, I've literally had people ask me to pop the hood so they can take a look and then say to me while looking under the hood, "I don't have a clue what I'm looking for, but figured this is what you're supposed to do when you buy a car..." When this happens (more frequently than you think) I do a basic run down with them of all the easy and smart things they need to do to look the car over, so I'm going to share a few of those with you now.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Ask the Seller if There are Any Problems - A quick an easy way to find out if there are any problems with the automobile is to ask the (hopefully honest) seller if they know of any problems with the car and also ask if they've made any repairs. This is a good thing to ask before you even go look at a car, but if you forgot, ask when in person.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Look the Vehicle Over Well - I've been doing this for a while and still miss things when I buy vehicles. When you arrive to look at the car, don't get distracted when you are looking it over. Walk around it 3-4 times, check out the body and the paint, are the tires good, is the interior clean, does the trunk open, is there a spare tire, look for any rust, is there anything that looks off? Take a good look at the outside of the car before you start checking it out mechanically.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Oil - This is a very simple, smart, and very important thing to do when you are looking at a car. First thing you do is obviously pop the hood, then look for the dipstick, usually located on the left side or right side of the motor on a 6 cylinder or 8 cylinder and more commonly in the front on a 4 cylinder vehicle. Take a rag or a few paper towels with you when you go to look at a car, good to help keep your hands clean and to help check fluids, when you pull the dip stick out it will have oil on it, you want to wipe it clean with your rag, re-insert it into the tube you pulled it out of, put it all the way back in, then pull the stick out again and you are going to check a few things. The first is you want to see where the oil level is at; is it full, is it low, is it way low, is it half full? If it is anything but full, oil has gone somewhere; leaked out, burned up or something. Ask if they know why the oil is low, when they last had the oil changed, or if they are having to add oil in between changes. The next thing you want to do is look at the color of the oil, you do not want it to be black and you do not want it to be white/yellowish. You want a clear/tan to a light brown color. If you see white/yellow sludge like/ mayonnaise/peanutbutterish stuff on the dip stick or under the engine cap/Oil cap, you will want to stay away, the vehicle has a blown head-gasket. The third thing I usually do is sniff the dip stick, if it smells burned, that means the vehicle is burning oil. It's not rocket science, this is all easy stuff, and it also lets the seller know that you mean business and that you know what you are doing.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Coolant -Always Always Always make sure that a vehicle is cool before attempting to remove the radiator cap. I like to be able to look at a vehicle when it is cold, in a "first start up of the day" environment if possible. But once you know the vehicle is cool, you'll want to remove the radiator cap and look in the top and see if the coolant is full and if it is coolant or water. Coolant should either be bright green or bright orange for the most part. There should not be silvery particles floating around or any kind of gunk. The top of the reservoir should be clear of any kind of build up and so should the underside of the cap. This is the same process now as with the oil, if the coolant is low, why? Have you had it flushed? Why is it filled with water instead of coolant, etc. If there is a bunch of gunk in the radiator or if you can tell it is significantly low, it's a good indicator there is some kind of an issue, leaking hose, cracked radiator, bad water pump, bad thermostat or more. If there are issues with the coolant, its levels, etc you should probably steer clear unless you are prepared to invest a little money in repairs.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check Under the Vehicle-I know it is dirty work, but if it was easy everyone would be doing it, and not every makes wise decisions when buying a used car. Make sure the vehicle is in park and shut off, be extra safe and apply the emergency break. Lay down on your belly and use a flashlight if you have one handy and look underneath the vehicle. It is common to see some condensation dripping down if the vehicle's A/C is running, but that should be about it. If you find anything greasy, oily, or any other substance that is accumulating on the underside of the vehicle, something is leaking. Good idea to look back up top side and see if you can find the source. Ask if they know what it is, why is it leaking, have they had it looked at. It's now up to you to determine whether it is a minor thing that you are ok with if you buy it or if it is a deal breaker.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Take It On a Test Drive - For some of you, this may sound silly, but I've had, on more than one occasion, people wanting to buy a car on the spot. No looking under the hood. No test driving it or anything. This is a BAD idea. Start the car up, take it on at least a 15 minute test drive, if you can get it up to 70 MPH on the interstate or highway, see how it drives. Make sure it doesn't overheat, make sure the transmission shifts smooth. Make sure the car isn't badly shaking, vibrating, or something else irregular. Check to make sure both the A/C and Heat are working. Also check to see if the power options work, power windows, locks, seats, cruise control, sunroof, radio, cd player, windshield wipers, blinkers, headlights, etc. Some of these things might not be deal breakers for you, but they might be price negotiation points.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Transmission Fluid -Commonly the transmission fluid dip stick is on the opposite side of the engine as the oil dip stick, but not always. It looks similar to the oil dip stick, some vehicles the top of it is yellow like the oil dip stick or red, occasionally it could be orange or black, but most times it's going to be yellow or red with the "trans" notation on it somewhere. You want to check the transmission fluid after you've taken the vehicle on a test drive, you also want the vehicle to be running when you test it in most cases, you want to see the level at operational temperature. So, same process as the oil check, pull the stick, wipe it, replace it, check the level, if it is low, why? etc. This is important to check the scent on as well, if it has a distinct burnt smell that's a bad sign that the transmission is burning fluid and you should stay away. Like engine oil, transmission fluid has a color it should be, most commonly a light to vibrant red color, if it is dark brown or black there is a problem and you should stay away.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Attempt to Negotiate the Price DOWN - I am a firm believer that just about anything can be purchased for less than advertised and this is especially true when dealing with used automobiles, even if you can't get the seller down on their price, perhaps you can get them to throw something in with the deal. Get them to have it serviced and get a free oil change, get a new tire put on, have them get it detailed, or have them fix something minor. I've had people include TVs, BluRay players, all kinds of things to make a deal work. You never know unless you ask. I always price evaluate vehicles I'm looking to buy on Kelley Blue Book. I use the Private Party & Fair Market Price evaluations, and usually I select "good" for the condition. This is a good starting point for knowing what the vehicle is worth. If you are buying from a dealership, you should ask if they have a warranty program, if so, find out more! You have the power to negotiate while the money is in your hands, once you buy the car, the negotiation is over, get the most bang for your buck that you can!

Closing Thoughts...

Things to Bring With You - A Bright Flash LightA Rag or Few Paper TowelsA Printed Out KBB Price Report (For Negotiation)Your Wits

Never Buy From Someone if You Discover They are Lying to You - If you discover in some form or fashion that the person you are considering purchasing the car from is lying to you, walk away. I don't care how small or big the lie is, steer clear. If they are lying to you about one thing, the odds are, they are lying about others as well. Liars aren't playing fair, and if you want a good car deal, work with someone who is honest.

Make Sure the Vehicle is in Their Name on the Title - I make a point of checking the Driver's License of the person I'm buying from and making sure it matches up with the information on the title. If the title isn't in their name, they can't sell the car unless they have a matching Power of Attorney form. If it's not in their name, don't buy it, unless you are certain they are selling for a relative and you've spoken with the actual owner of the car. The last thing you want to do is buy a stolen car, then later have the car taken away by the police, and never see your money again. You also want to make sure that the VIN # on the title matches up with the car you are looking at. Easy way to do this is to look on the edge of the driver side door or door panel, or in the bottom corner of the driver side of the windshield, the VIN # is always located in those places. You also want to make sure you have a clear understanding of the classification of the vehicle title; is it clean, rebuilt or salvage. If you need more information on this, just google it and you'll be up to speed.

Trust Your Gut- The most valuable tool you have when evaluating an automobile and the seller is your instincts (or as I like to say, "your gut.") If you feel like something is off, walk away. You can always sleep on it and call back tomorrow, if the vehicle is gone, then it wasn't meant to be. You know that you can trust yourself, and if you are getting a weird vibe or are uncomfortable with the seller or are second guessing something about the car, its best to steer clear and not make an expensive mistake.

Although it is not an exhaustive list of what you can do to best evaluate a used automobile before purchasing it, it is a pretty good one. If you do all of what I mentioned above, you should come away with a good dependable vehicle at a good price. Nothing I mentioned above is too difficult, you don't have to be a mechanic, you don't have to have working knowledge of automobiles. You just need to be thorough, pay close attention, and be smart! Best of luck and happy hunting in the fun and exciting world of used automobiles!

Just a thought for the day for any of you looking at buying or selling a used car anytime in the near future; there are a number of great deals to be had on Facebook or Craigslist from private owners selling/buying their cars, but I want to issue a warning or an alert. Be extremely careful who you deal with, in the last few days I've come across liars, thieves, and bad people. People that are out to get money and care nothing about you, these are people locally, I'm not even talking about the thousands of online scams people are running (I know 3 people personally who've been victimized by these).

When you buy a car from a private individual do a few things to be safe; meet somewhere public like a Walmart, a bank, state trooper office or police station. Deal with cash only, unless you can verify the funds from a check before signing paperwork. Verify that the name on the title of the vehicle you are buying is the name of the person you are dealing with (ask for their driver's license). If you are selling a vehicle, it is your responsibility to make sure that all of the buyer's and seller's information is filled out on the title, so do it.

If you discover that a person is lying to you, I suggest that you avoid buying a car from them, what else might they be lying to you about?

​Click HERE to read an article I wrote detailing all the steps you should take to make sure you buy a dependable vehicle!​If you are so inclined to purchase a quality used automobile from a used car dealer, here are a few of the locations I suggest you visiting, I know the owners of each of these locations personally, they are good people that care about their customers. Thanks and have a blessed day!A & P Auto SalesBroadway MotorsChamp Hinton EnterprisesHackler's Auto SalesRose Auto Sales

This is a great news piece on how to buy and sell safely. I've used Walmart parking lots for years when buying automobiles. Be safe and don't meet someone at their house, or 20 miles out in the middle of the woods.“Bad things happen to people that are meeting not just over Craigslist, but you have Facebook sales now, even ticket sales…there’s going to be a risk there that you’re taking, because you’re meeting a stranger."-- Chief Will Dawson Greenwood Arkansas Police Department City of Greenwood AR

GREENWOOD (KFSM) – The Greenwood Police Department installed “Safe Exchange Zones” in its parking lot as an initiative to help keep people safe during transactions with strangers.
“Bad things happen to people that are meeting not just over Craigslist, but you have Facebook sales now, even ticket sales…there’s going to be a risk there that you’re taking, because you’re meeting a stranger," Chief Will Dawson said Sunday (Jan. 17).
The department has dedicated three parking spots in its lot for safe exchange zones.
The goal is for the seller and buyer to meet and have a peaceful transaction, knowing their every move is being caught on camera. Dawson said a camera is recording 24/7, with a light in the parking lot to help capture anything going on at night.
Dawson said in this day and age, it's too risky not to meet in a safe, public place for these transactions.
“There was a couple that went to look at a car with their son; they were both shot and their car was stolen,” Dawson said, recalling an incident he heard about. “There was a person shot in Atlanta, I believe in the beginning of this month, over an iPhone 6."
He said the surveillance camera should make a difference.
“I think that would deter a lot of criminal activity -- to know they're going to be recorded,” he said.
Residents outside of Greenwood are welcome to use the zones, as well as the department’s lobby, when it’s open. The signs were installed this weekend, and the zones are already getting some use.
“We’ve seen a transaction, and also two people exchanging their children for child custody."
Dawson said the signs and camera cost about $700, a price the department is happy to pay so everyone feels safe. The money will also go toward painting the pavement in each zone, when the weather is right.
“It’s absolutely worth the cost to provide a safe area for citizens to come and exchange goods. This will give them a peace of mind when they’re actually going to meet a stranger," Dawson said.
In a press release, the department listed the following tips:
· Use websites you are familiar with
· Never provide personal information over the Internet
· Never purchase anything online using your credit card from a website that does not have an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
· When taking photos, utilize the cut and paste method from a Word document. This will make it harder for the bad guys to utilize GPS location programs to find you.
· Take a photo of just the item you are selling. Items in the background can represent additional targets for the would-be criminal.
· Ask a lot of questions
· Don’t go alone
· Show up early
“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The tips above, coupled with trusting your instincts should result in a good experience for both buyer and seller,” the release states.
101 deaths have been linked to Craigslist, according to a blog keeping track of the killings.
The Greenwood Police Department is located at 250 Old Hackett Rd., Greenwood, AR 72936.

Thanks to Amy Slanchik at 5News in Fort Smith, AR
Story originally postedHERE

For a lot of people, buying a used automobile can be a scary and nerve wracking experience, but it doesn't have to be. Equip yourself with a little bit of knowledge and preparation and you can be a smart car buyer, save money buying a good used car, and save yourself grief by passing up on a bad deal. Every week I get several people coming through the gates of our dealership to look at our vehicles. Some simply look at the prices and leave, others will walk around the vehicles, then some others will want the keys to look inside or start them up and others (mostly the ones that buy a car) want to take the vehicle on a test drive. One thing I've learned is that most people are not very well educated on what they need to do in order to inspect a vehicle before purchasing, I've literally had people ask me to pop the hood so they can take a look and then say to me while looking under the hood, "I don't have a clue what I'm looking for, but figured this is what you're supposed to do when you buy a car..." When this happens (more frequently than you think) I do a basic run down with them of all the easy and smart things they need to do to look the car over, so I'm going to share a few of those with you now.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Ask the Seller if There are Any Problems - A quick an easy way to find out if there are any problems with the automobile is to ask the (hopefully honest) seller if they know of any problems with the car and also ask if they've made any repairs. This is a good thing to ask before you even go look at a car, but if you forgot, ask when in person.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Look the Vehicle Over Well - I've been doing this for a while and still miss things when I buy vehicles. When you arrive to look at the car, don't get distracted when you are looking it over. Walk around it 3-4 times, check out the body and the paint, are the tires good, is the interior clean, does the trunk open, is there a spare tire, look for any rust, is there anything that looks off? Take a good look at the outside of the car before you start checking it out mechanically.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Oil - This is a very simple, smart, and very important thing to do when you are looking at a car. First thing you do is obviously pop the hood, then look for the dipstick, usually located on the left side or right side of the motor on a 6 cylinder or 8 cylinder and more commonly in the front on a 4 cylinder vehicle. Take a rag or a few paper towels with you when you go to look at a car, good to help keep your hands clean and to help check fluids, when you pull the dip stick out it will have oil on it, you want to wipe it clean with your rag, re-insert it into the tube you pulled it out of, put it all the way back in, then pull the stick out again and you are going to check a few things. The first is you want to see where the oil level is at; is it full, is it low, is it way low, is it half full? If it is anything but full, oil has gone somewhere; leaked out, burned up or something. Ask if they know why the oil is low, when they last had the oil changed, or if they are having to add oil in between changes. The next thing you want to do is look at the color of the oil, you do not want it to be black and you do not want it to be white/yellowish. You want a clear/tan to a light brown color. If you see white/yellow sludge like/ mayonnaise/peanutbutterish stuff on the dip stick or under the engine cap/Oil cap, you will want to stay away, the vehicle has a blown head-gasket. The third thing I usually do is sniff the dip stick, if it smells burned, that means the vehicle is burning oil. It's not rocket science, this is all easy stuff, and it also lets the seller know that you mean business and that you know what you are doing.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Coolant -Always Always Always make sure that a vehicle is cool before attempting to remove the radiator cap. I like to be able to look at a vehicle when it is cold, in a "first start up of the day" environment if possible. But once you know the vehicle is cool, you'll want to remove the radiator cap and look in the top and see if the coolant is full and if it is coolant or water. Coolant should either be bright green or bright orange for the most part. There should not be silvery particles floating around or any kind of gunk. The top of the reservoir should be clear of any kind of build up and so should the underside of the cap. This is the same process now as with the oil, if the coolant is low, why? Have you had it flushed? Why is it filled with water instead of coolant, etc. If there is a bunch of gunk in the radiator or if you can tell it is significantly low, it's a good indicator there is some kind of an issue, leaking hose, cracked radiator, bad water pump, bad thermostat or more. If there are issues with the coolant, its levels, etc you should probably steer clear unless you are prepared to invest a little money in repairs.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check Under the Vehicle-I know it is dirty work, but if it was easy everyone would be doing it, and not every makes wise decisions when buying a used car. Make sure the vehicle is in park and shut off, be extra safe and apply the emergency break. Lay down on your belly and use a flashlight if you have one handy and look underneath the vehicle. It is common to see some condensation dripping down if the vehicle's A/C is running, but that should be about it. If you find anything greasy, oily, or any other substance that is accumulating on the underside of the vehicle, something is leaking. Good idea to look back up top side and see if you can find the source. Ask if they know what it is, why is it leaking, have they had it looked at. It's now up to you to determine whether it is a minor thing that you are ok with if you buy it or if it is a deal breaker.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Take It On a Test Drive - For some of you, this may sound silly, but I've had, one more than one occasion, people wanting to buy a car on the spot. No looking under the hood. No test driving it or anything. This is a BAD idea. Start the car up, take it on at least a 15 minute test drive, if you can get it up to 70 MPH on the interstate or highway, see how it drives. Make sure it doesn't overheat, make sure the transmission shifts smooth. Make sure the car isn't badly shaking, vibrating, or something else irregular. Check to make sure both the A/C and Heat are working. Also check to see if the power options work, power windows, locks, seats, cruise control, sunroof, radio, cd player, windshield wipers, blinkers, headlights, etc. Some of these things might not be deal breakers for you, but they might be price negotiation points.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Check the Transmission Fluid -Commonly the transmission fluid dip stick is on the opposite side of the engine as the oil dip stick, but not always. It looks similar to the oil dip stick, some vehicles the top of it is yellow like the oil dip stick or red, occasionally it could be orange or black, but most times it's going to be yellow or red with the "trans" notation on it somewhere. You want to check the transmission fluid after you've taken the vehicle on a test drive, you also want the vehicle to be running when you test it in most cases, you want to see the level at operational temperature. So, same process as the oil check, pull the stick, wipe it, replace it, check the level, if it is low, why? etc. This is important to check the scent on as well, if it has a distinct burnt smell that's a bad sign that the transmission is burning fluid and you should stay away. Like engine oil, transmission fluid has a color it should be, most commonly a light to vibrant red color, if it is dark brown or black there is a problem and you should stay away.

When Buying a Used Car You Should Attempt to Negotiate the Price DOWN - I am a firm believer that just about anything can be purchased for less than advertised and this is especially true when dealing with used automobiles, even if you can't get the seller down on their price, perhaps you can get them to throw something in with the deal. Get them to have it serviced and get a free oil change, get a new tire put on, have them get it detailed, or have them fix something minor. I've had people include TVs, BluRay players, all kinds of things to make a deal work. You never know unless you ask. I always price evaluate vehicles I'm looking to buy on Kelley Blue Book. I use the Private Party evaluation, and I select good for the condition. This is a good starting point for knowing what the vehicle is worth. If you are buying from a dealership, you should ask if they have a warranty program, if so, find out more! You have the power to negotiate while the money is in your hands, once you buy the car, the negotiation is over, get the most bang for your buck that you can!

Closing Thoughts...Things to Bring With You - A Bright Flash LightA Rag or Few PapertowelsA Printed Out KBB Price Report (For Negotiation)You Wits

Never Buy From Someone if You Discover They are Lying to You - If you discover in some form or fashion that the person you are considering purchasing the car from is lying to you, walk away. I don't care how small or big the lie is, steer clear. If they are lying to you about one thing, the odds are, they are lying about others as well. Liars aren't playing fair, and if you want a good car deal, work with someone who is honest.

Make Sure the Vehicle is in Their Name on the Title - I make a point of checking the Driver's License of the person I'm buying from and making sure it matches up with the information on the title. If the title isn't in their name, they can't sell the car unless they have a matching Power of Attorney form. If it's not in their name, don't buy it, unless you are certain they are selling for a relative and you've spoken with the actual owner of the car. The last thing you want to do is buy a stolen car, then later have the car taken away by the police, and never see your money again. You also want to make sure that the VIN # on the title matches up with the car you are looking at. Easy way to do this is to look on the edge of the driver side door or door panel, or in the bottom corner of the driver side of the windshield, the VIN # is always located in those places. You also want to make sure you have a clear understanding of the classification of the vehicle title; is it clean, rebuilt or salvage. If you need more information on this, just google it and you'll be up to speed.

Trust Your Gut- The most valuable tool you have when evaluating an automobile and the seller is your instincts (or as I like to say, "your gut.") If you feel like something is off, walk away. You can always sleep on it and call back tomorrow, if the vehicle is gone, then it wasn't meant to be. You know that you can trust yourself, and if you are getting a weird vibe or are uncomfortable with the seller or are second guessing something about the car, its best to steer clear and not make an expensive mistake.

Although it is not an exhaustive list of what you can do to best evaluate a used automobile before purchasing it, it is a pretty good one. If you do all of what I mentioned above, you should come away with a good dependable vehicle at a good price. Nothing I mentioned above is too difficult, you don't have to be a mechanic, you don't have to have working knowledge of automobiles. You just need to be thorough, pay close attention, and be smart! Best of luck and happy hunting in the fun and exciting world of used automobiles!